Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

The Description of the Four Durgā Mantras

Devanagari script

प्रणवः श्रीः शिवायुग्मं वाणीवैरोचनीपदम् । वज्राद्यं क्षुधिता सूक्ष्मा मृता स्वाग्नींदुसंयुता ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

praṇavaḥ śrīḥ śivāyugmaṃ vāṇīvairocanīpadam | vajrādyaṃ kṣudhitā sūkṣmā mṛtā svāgnīṃdusaṃyutā || 2 ||

Translation

പ്രണവം ‘ഓം’, ‘ശ്രീ’, ശിവനാമയുഗ്മം, വാണി (സരസ്വതി) പദവും ‘വൈരോചന’ പദവും; തുടർന്ന് ‘വജ്ര’ മുതലായ പദങ്ങൾ, ‘ക്ഷുധിതാ’, ‘സൂക്ഷ്മാ’, ‘മൃതാ’, കൂടാതെ ‘സ്വാഗ്നീ’ ‘ഇന്ദു’—ഇവയെല്ലാം വിധിപ്രകാരം മന്ത്രക്രമത്തിൽ ചേർക്കണം।

Word by Word

• praṇavaḥ: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• śrīḥ: Śrī (prosperity/auspiciousness)
• śrīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• śivā-yugmam: the pair of Śivā (two syllables/letters)
• śivā-yugmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक) + yugma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'śivāyāḥ yugmam'

• vāṇī-vairocanī-padam: the word/term 'Vāṇī-Vairocanī'
• vāṇī-vairocanī-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + vairocanī (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative): 'vāṇyāḥ vairocanīyāḥ padam'

• vajra-ādyam: beginning with 'vajra'
• vajra-ādyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'vajraḥ ādiḥ yasya' (beginning with vajra)

• kṣudhitā: hungry
• kṣudhitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣudh (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय) → kṣudhita (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past participle): 'hungry'

• sūkṣmā: subtle
• sūkṣmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• mṛtā: dead
• mṛtā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय) → mṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle): 'dead'

• svāgnī-indu-saṃyutā: joined with (the syllables) svāgnī and indu
• svāgnī-indu-saṃyutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + agnī (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'svāgnī-indu-bhiḥ saṃyutā' (joined with one's Agnī and Indu)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical Vedanga/mantra-prayoga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Śiva
• Vāṇī (Sarasvatī)
• Vairocana
• Vajra
• Indu

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It highlights sacred sound and divine appellations (Oṁ, Śrī, Śiva, Sarasvatī/Vāṇī, Indu) as formally enumerated elements in a technical ritual/mantra framework, stressing that spiritual power is approached through precise śabda (authorized terms) and their correct application.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By foregrounding Praṇava and divine names (Śrī, Śiva, Vāṇī), the verse implies that devotion is practiced through reverent recitation and disciplined use of sanctified names—bhakti expressed as regulated japa and liturgical speech rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-style technicality: controlled use of specific terms and epithets in mantra procedure—linking to Śikṣā (phonetic discipline) and Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-like concern for correct word-forms and sanctioned nomenclature in ritual recitation.